While Owens opted not to travel to Canton, and instead gave his speech at his alma mater earlier in the day, seven stood on the stage in front of a stadium of fans, family, and players.

AmpliVox's long time hometown favorite Brian Urlacher from the Chicago Bears was elected on his first ballot in a deep class of finalists. His induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame is a a well-deserved recognition of his career as one of the best middle linebackers to ever play the game.

Wednesday, August 01, 2018

In an economy increasingly dominated by online sales and faceless vendors, the notion of customer relationships may seem quaint. When buyers can just search for products on Amazon or a hundred other Web-based clearinghouses, is there a future for sales professionals?

Personal connection is the single most important element in maximizing sales over the long term. Focusing on relationship building allows a sales professional to anticipate customer needs, make targeted recommendations, and become a trusted partner for future purchases.

After 20-plus years in manufacturing and sales, I firmly believe that personal connection is the single most important element in maximizing sales over the long term.

Instead of constantly chasing individual sales, focusing on relationship building allows a sales professional to anticipate customer needs, make targeted recommendations, and become a trusted partner for future purchases.

To cultivate this relationship-based approach, salespeople need universal skills based on human nature.

Everyone wants to feel heard, understood, remembered, and appreciated. Think about these priorities as you approach your new customers.

Reading the Room: Emphasize Conversation

Each customer comes to you with a different set of priorities. Some will be facing a time crunch and need quick, concise answers; others will be window-shopping for purchases that may not be made for weeks or months.

Be sensitive to the tone used by each customer and adapt your approach accordingly. Whenever possible, engage in relaxed conversation to learn about their general business needs. It may not generate an immediate sale, but it can lay the foundation for a more fruitful relationship over time.

Attentive Listening: Be a Problem Solver

If a customer comes to you with specific needs, take them to heart. This is not the time to showcase your encyclopedic knowledge of your entire product line. Listen carefully to the customer’s concerns, taking notes and asking questions to clarify your understanding (and demonstrate that you are paying attention). Then make product recommendations with specific references to the needs expressed by the customer.

If you are trying to lead them toward a more expensive product, be sure to directly explain why the added features or benefits of that product will serve the customer’s stated needs. Taking the time to educate the buyer will leave a lasting impression that can translate into a long-term relationship.

Talking Up: Make Your Customer Look Like a Genius

Frequently, your first point of contact will not be the final decision-maker. That does not mean the initial relationship is any less important. The best way to get access to the person higher up the chain is to take your friendly contact along for the ride.

Suggest a meeting, conference call, or other group communication, and be sure to highlight the ways the employee has helped you understand the company’s needs. Present your proposed solution as a team effort, especially if you can find a way fulfill their requirements below budget. If the boss is happy, you will have made a friend for life in the trenches.

Follow Up: Be the First Choice

Your customer relationship should never end at the point of purchase. Now that you’ve laid the groundwork, stay in touch to ensure they are satisfied and to let them know you have not forgotten them.
Adding their contact info to your company’s general marketing lists is an important first step, but you can do much more with a personal touch that shows your knowledge of their company.

Is your supplier offering an upgrade that enhances their purchase? Is there a new product that fills a “wish list” item for them? There’s no need for a hard sell when you tailor your suggestions to needs you already know exist.

In sales as in life, relationships aren’t always easy. They require commitment, effort, and give-and-take. Sometimes they fizzle out. Nonetheless, the ones that flourish can stand the test of time and pay dividends for years.

You may even find that the skills you polish in sales serve you well in your personal relationships. Take the time to step away from the computer and see how one-on-one sales conversations can grow your business.

Monday, July 30, 2018

At age 67, Rich Roth, brother of AmpliVox CEO Don Roth, continues his amazing quest to Greek God immortality having completed marathons in every USA state (many more than once), every Canadian province and many European countries including native Sweden where Roth's mom was born.

The S1270 Power Horn Speakers were installed onto the emergency stations that are spread throughout the Metropolitan Park to broadcast public address announcements to all visitors and staff members.

The network of S1270 Horn Speakers allow an announcer to be sufficiently audible over a large area and to be intelligibly heard by all in attendance, covering the entire park grounds and delivering exceptional sound clarity in a rugged loudspeaker with reliable performance.

The AmpliVox S1270 Paging Horn is a 100‑watt, highly intelligible, lightweight horn speaker designed for use in public address or paging applications. Ideal for schools, factories, office buildings, convention centers and sports venues.

In addition to the usual schedule of fitness, swimming, dance, and art programs that fill the community center all year, summer brings an additional 300-400 children to the Y campus each week for 10 weeks of day camp.

The Y welcomes campers ages three to 14, many of whom are at the building for extended hours from 7:00am to 6:00pm.

The enormous popularity of the Y’s camp program creates logistical challenges for staff members throughout the 80,000 square foot center.

From the parking lot drop off to the indoor pool to the playgrounds and athletic fields, groups of children are constantly in motion between different areas.

In addition, frequent field trips take campers off-campus to waterparks, zoos, and other locations in the greater Chicago area.

Clear communication between management, counselors, campers and parents is essential to maintaining a safe, organized environment at the Y and offsite.

The Y uses a variety of portable sound systems from AmpliVox to meet its specialized needs. Based in Northbrook, AmpliVox has a long history of supporting the Y and providing equipment for programs and events.

Working closely with Y leadership, AmpliVox identified areas in the camp program where communication was especially important to safety and then matched the most effective sound system product to address each scenario.

These versatile applications make the programs more efficient on a daily basis, and also stand ready for use in case of emergencies.

Key areas of need included:

Drop-off/Pick-up Zones:

Each morning, hundreds of parents line up through the Y’s parking lot to drop off their children.

Since the Y allows registration by the week, each Monday brings new families who have to learn the procedures and get oriented to the hectic process of connecting children with their counselors.

To help direct parents with both verbal and visual cues, camp staff use the AmpliVox Safety Wand Megaphone, a unique communication tool that combines an LED illuminated wand with a corded microphone and loudspeaker.

This is especially useful on rainy days, since the lighted wand makes staff members more visible and improves their safety as they work with traffic.

Gymnasiums:

The Y’s double-court gym is in constant use throughout the day for games, sports, performances and group activities.

The massive space, especially when filled with noisy kids, can be chaotic.

The SW925 Digital Audio Travel Partner Plus can support multiple wireless microphones, stream music from Bluetooth®-equipped devices and pair with supplementary speakers to provide customized sound coverage for audiences up to 7500 people or areas up to 15,000 square feet.

Staff members can also move it easily from room to room thanks to its durable all-in-one design with luggage-style handle and wheels.

Participants will explore the Conference & Show Trade Show floor, networking with approximately 60 auction related exhibitors that offer a variety of innovative solutions to maximize business operations.

Headquartered in Overland Park, Kan., the NAA represents the interests of thousands of auction professionals in the U.S., Canada and across the world.

The NAA is a membership-based organization and represents a range of auction professionals who service a variety of industries.

The association is dedicated to providing its members with educational programming and resources to help them advance themselves and, in turn, the industry.

Members of the NAA abide by a strict Code of Ethics and are connected with an extensive network of auction professionals.

AmpliVox sound equipment enables auctioneers to keep audiences fully engaged without voice fatigue. Auctioneer PA systems provide great voice amplification and saves your voice from hoarseness or strain that can be caused by talking above the background noise and voices of the crowd for long periods of time.

Additionally, wireless systems allow the auctioneer to move freely around the room for a personalized interactive experience. Our selection of portable sound systems allow auctions to host various crowd sizes in different environments, indoors or outdoors.

Thursday, July 05, 2018

AmpliVox Sound Systems’ products have always guaranteed reliable communications, and now that message will be heard loud and clear across many continents. Their latest Sound Comparison Guide has been revised with new products and latest updates, translated for its customers who serve the Spanish, Italian, German, French markets.

The Sound Comparison Guide is a persuasive sales and marketing tool that compares product features, including sound coverage, dimensions, and cost of more than 25 lecterns and indoor/outdoor PA systems.

This informative Guide will make it easy to choose a sound system for your customers’ applications.

AmpliVox CEO Don Roth describes the company’s global messaging as an integral part of its multimedia presentation systems.

The world depends and trusts AmpliVox Sound Systems because it offers not only high quality and reliability, but as seen in the Guide, elegant style for every speaking need. The Sound Comparison Guides are available in: